Crock Pot Chicken

This recipe is from my Aunt Diane's cookbook.  It's super easy, tasty and you can prep it ahead of time.  Score!  Hope you enjoy it.

8 split chicken breasts, boned & skinned
1 cube butter
1 pkg Zesty Italian dressing mix
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1 pkg (8 oz) Cream Cheese
Noodles or Rice

Melt butter and pour into crock pot.  Put chicken in butter 9cut up in pieces if desired).  Sprinkle dressing mix over chicken.  Cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.  Half an hour before serving, melt cream cheese in sauce pan.  Add soup.  Pour into crock pot. Stir until well blended with butter.  Serve over noodles or rice.

Slow Cooker Taco Soup

In honor of Soup Month, I'm going to post some of our favorite soup recipes.  I love slow-cooker/crock pot recipes.  You can prep ahead of time and then let the machine do all the work.

1 onion, chopped

2 (16 ounce) can pinto beans

1 (15 ounce) can black beans

1 (16 ounce) bag frozen whole kernel corn

1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

12 fluid ounces chicken stock or water

2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes

1 can diced green chilies, undrained

1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning (I use 1 T. of my Taco Seasoning here)

3 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts, diced (I only used one and it was plenty)

shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)

sour cream (optional)

crushed tortilla chips (optional)

Place all ingredients but optional ones into the slow cooker pot. Set slow cooker for low heat, cover, and cook for 7 hours or cook on high for 3 hours.  Stir occasionally as time allows.  Serve topped with shredded Cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips, if desired.

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This is really versatile.  You can use other meat with it, change the beans and add and subtract easily.  I added chopped spinach to leftovers and increased the tomatoes.  I typically add more tomatoes and some garlic.